fake United States one hundred dollar bills.

Last week, two counterfeit notes turned up at the Bank of Bermuda, after having been successfully passed in Hamilton stores.

Yesterday, investigating officer Det. Con. Chris Wilcox said the first note appeared during the Queen's visit, but just one week later two more showed up.

In all five notes have been found recently, although Police report that five or six other fake bills had been found since the year began.

"It's normally quiet during this time of year,'' Det. Con. Wilcox said.

"Last year around this time there was also a sudden rash of counterfeit notes, but this is unusual because they normally start appearing during the tourist season generally July or August.'' Det. Con. Wilcox said the latest five counterfeits have turned up within a short time of each other and had similar features.

"Either someone who has been here passed them and then left, or they are still here and more could be in circulation,'' he added.

He said the notes were definitely produced overseas, because Interpol records confirmed that similar notes were circulating in Arizona and other mid western states.

Each of the five notes has a serial number which begins E59609, and they are drawn on the Federal Reserve's Bank of Richmond.

The face plate number is 133 and the series year is 1989, while the back plate number is 185.

On the face of the bill, the federal reserve seal, which can be found on the left hand side, is `E'. Above that, the check letter B appears in the top left hand corner, while the quadrant number, also in that corner is 2.

Police are asking anyone who believes they may have a counterfeit bank note to put it in a safe place and telephone the Police crime prevention office at 299-4286 or central CID at 295-0011.

FAKE MONEY -- Police have issued this sheet pointing out the flaws in counterfeit US $100 bills which have been circulating in Bermuda recently.